Scared? Are you worried if the Coronavirus (COVID-19) will affect you or your family members? Do you think you should immediately get a COVID-19 vaccine when and if it’s available? Do you think it’s possible to not contract the virus (or at least have minimal symptoms) even if you are exposed? We cannot answer all the questions you may have, but I know if the government produces a COVID-19 vaccine, I won’t be the first in line to volunteer as a lab rat to see if it works…and neither will my 10 (8 minor) children. There are always options and other ways to beat this virus, especially since there isn’t a proven cure or vaccine.
Understanding COVID-19
If fear is driving you to read this post, stop and take a deep cleansing breath right now. Fear NOT. I, too, was a bit anxious with the virus. It spread a wee bit too quickly for my liking. I didn’t appreciate how my “not safe & precautious” country was still accepting international flights and not detaining people for testing. I didn’t like my husband flying into a known Coronavirus state and possibly bringing it hope to our 10 children, 3 of which have breathing complications (asthma). I knew there wasn’t a COVID-19 vaccine yet, but I hated the idea that it could be our only option if we got infected. All in all, I didn’t know a lick about COVID-19, but I was (and maybe a bit still) scared.
What Is It?
So, what exactly is COVID-19 aka Coronavirus? According to the WHO organization, it’s simply put as an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. I know, that doesn’t tell me a whole lot either. However, the typical problems associated with this highly contagious infectious disease is that most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness. Most will (in most cases 98%) and recover without requiring special treatment.
Older people on the other hand, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness or death.
Right now, for the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions don’t have an option for a COVID-19 vaccine, even if one was available. This can be scary. I, personally, am not a proponent of vaccinations, however, I am willing to take a step back and think, if there were a COVID-19 vaccine, what would it do differently that I am not doing now to prevent getting seriously ill?
Since I cannot rely 100% on a COVID-19 vaccine, recent events have stirred me towards another potential scare. Virus mutation. The “original” Coronavirus and its underlying known symptoms have evolved. This leads me to believe that a COVID-19 vaccine wouldn’t do me or my family a lick of good if we get vaccinated for a mutative strain of COVID-19 only to fall ill to something completely different. However, according to The Hill, these mutations aren’t as scary as my mind made them up to be (are you guilty too)?
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I feel a bit better knowing that the current mutations that are being recorded, are slow, causing similar symptoms, and/or still testing for the same parent virus. This makes me think, yeah, maybe a COVID-19 vaccine could be useful, like a chickenpox vaccination (though, I’d rather my kids just get it naturally). But… people are dying… and they’d more than likely still be alive if it wasn’t for this virus. But… is it healthy to focus on the the soul-crushing deaths of this pandemic? No, no it’s not.
Stop Focusing On The Deaths
Daunting isn’t it? I see these numbers and get scared too. However, this simply can’t be all that I focus on and it shouldn’t be all you focus on either. You see, these are recorded cases. There are NOT enough tests, there are NOT enough people actually doing to the doctor, there simply is NOT enough fool-proof data for accuracy. The researchers are already aware that there are MORE people infected with COVID-19 than recorded due to mild or no apparent symptoms.
While the hysteria and panic over COVID-19’s presumed lethality grow, so do serious questions about whether the government and media are accurately reporting on the scale of the threat.
GreenMed Info
The NVSS statement (screenshot below) advises those recording death certificates to note the cause of death to be COVID-19 even when it is only “assumed to have caused or contributed to death”:
I don’t know about you but I don’t see the complete picture here being drawn. We’re only getting bits and pieces of the whole and unfortunately, many entities hold pieces aside while getting others (people like you and me) to focus on the other side of the puzzle. What I’m ultimately saying is… take all of the news in with a filter and do your best to not let it get you anxious, stressed, or scared beyond reason.
People ARE recovering and they are surviving this pandemic. We’re hearing all the sad stories and rising death numbers, that we forget to focus on the survivors. Those who have built up an immunity so many of us have not been exposed to.
Focus on the survivors.
What did they eat? What supplements did they take, if any? What was their gut health like? Were they on any medications? What exactly were their symptoms…did they even have symptoms? What can we gain from their experience since a COVID-19 vaccine does not exist…yet.
Study & focus on the survivors – hear their stories and gain wisdom instead of fear.
Coach Andi
Will There Be A COVID-19 VACCINE?
Quite possibly. According to the University of Pittsburg School of Medicine scientists today announced a potential vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus causing the COVID-19 pandemic. When tested in mice, the vaccine, delivered through a fingertip-sized patch, produces antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 at quantities thought to be sufficient for neutralizing the virus.
Our ability to rapidly develop this vaccine was a result of scientists with expertise in diverse areas of research working together with a common goal
co-senior author Louis Falo, M.D., Ph.D.
I’m not sure what I think about he COVID-19 vaccine potential but I am a proponent of medications that are necessary for people who choose the SAD lifestyle: the Standard American Diet. This sounds promising, but unfortunately, I do believe the transparency and safety of this COVID-19 vaccine is as favorable as my baby’s latest dookey diaper. It stinks y’all and there’s only one place for that thing to go…
The researchers also used a novel approach to deliver the drug, called a microneedle array, to increase potency. This array is a fingertip-sized patch of 400 tiny needles that delivers the spike protein pieces into the skin, where the immune reaction is strongest. The patch goes on like a Band-Aid and then the needles — which are made entirely of sugar and the protein pieces — simply dissolve into the skin.
We developed this to build on the original scratch method used to deliver the smallpox vaccine to the skin, but as a high-tech version that is more efficient and reproducible patient to patient.
Louis Falo, M.D., Ph.D.
So, yeah, a COVID-19 vaccine is definitely coming, but how fast and how safe? Side-effects? Effectiveness? We just don’t know and it would be rather lazy (in my opinion) to wait around for the government to “take care of me” with an unknown substance to prick its way into my body and “hopefully” work. Yeah, no thanks. I need to be proactive…now. The social distancing, sheltering-in-place, and only going out for necessities is great – we’re certainly doing that, but I want MORE protection.
More protection, MORE immunity, and less symptoms, with the best recovery outcome should the undesirable event happen… someone in my immediate family of 12 becomes infected with COVID-19.
Protecting Yourself & Family From COVID-19
Be MORE proactive. Right now, the following precautions are in place:
- Wash your hands frequently
- Maintain social distancing
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
- Practice respiratory hygiene
- If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
- Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider
- Stay at home if you begin to feel unwell
Is that list enough? Probably not. Go a mile further. Protect and strengthen your lungs, heart, and your immune system (aka, your gut). In lieu of a COVID-19 vaccine, why not put into practice additional measures to make yourself and your family as immune as possible?
The Importance of Lung Health
Breathe. The main cause of death when it comes to the Coronavirus pandemic is viral pneumonia. The lungs do not have enough time to recover and heal before the pneumonia runs unabated and the patients did not survive.
Practice Breathing. This is a great time to incorporate mindful meditation techniques and deep breathing exercises. Not only will you strengthen your lungs and fill your body with life-giving oxygen, you are systematically lowering your stress levels and cortisol response.
Eat for lung health. When was the last time someone said to eat an apple for your lungs? Yeah, first time, huh? Well, thanks to Dr. Axe, there’s an extensive and wonderfully delicious way to eat in order to add some protection to your lungs. Some of his recommendations are:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Turmeric
- Salmon (wild caught)
- Ginger
- Leafy Greens
- Green Tea
Make sure you aren’t countering those healthful effects by eating shitty food as well. For instance, you’ll want to avoid:
- Processed ingredients and food (convenience foods)
- Trans fats
- Sugary beverages
- Fried foods
- Refined vegetable oils (like canola oil)
Remember, these are only a few tips… exercise, get some sun (without sunblock) for 10-15 minutes (don’t burn yourself, okay?), and pay attention to your indoor air quality. Change your air filters in your home and vacuum bag for instance. Be proactive to protect your lungs without the possibility of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Your Gut Is More Powerful Than A Vaccine
Since there’s no telling when an effective COVID-19 vaccine will be readily available (think COVID-19 test kits), go to your next best defense: Your Gut. According to Dr. Mercola, your immune system doesn’t have a particular “location”, like your heart or lungs. Rather, about 80 percent of your immune system resides in your gastrointestinal tract in the form of receptor cells. This is a prime location because, what happens in your gut can powerfully influence your immune function.
Just think… the superman of your body is basically the tunnel of your pooper! This ‘tunnel’, your gut, has the capacity of a large, thriving population of beneficial bacteria that can house probitoics. These probiotics, consumed as food or as supplements, support your immune system receptor cells. This is what forms the protective barrier within your ‘tunnel’ of immunity. If you optimize the population of beneficial bacteria, it’s going to be your most powerful asset to your health and well-being.
Get this right and having a COVID-19 vaccine may be unnecessary.
Build Up Your Immunity…Naturally
Once the COVID-19 vaccine is available, at least now, if you use any of these suggestions, you have plenty of options on the table. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine may no longer feel like a lone solitary option for you. Now that you have several more active, preventative measures that go beyond the standard of care and precautious again COVID-19, your chances of survival, may have exponentially increased.
When Natural Remedies Don’t Work
It would be wrong of me to not consider the possibility that natural remedies may not work for you. We’ve seen it time and time again, people will take preventative measures, like getting their annual flu shot to avoid the flu, but it doesn’t work. They get the flu anyway because, guess what… it wasn’t the right strain or your body simply did not respond to the inoculation as expected. The very same thing can happen with natural remedies – your body does’t respond as expected.
So what do you do? Continue practicing selfcare and healthy choices. Who’s to say you tried every natural remedy under the sun? Who’s to say that another medication won’t work in your favor? Just like treating those who are infected with COVID-19, some treatments work, some don’t and hospitals are turning ill patients away. Yes, I know this first hand – they are simply not being treated because conventional treatments won’t make a difference; they say there’s nothing they can do.
It’s probably not the natural remedies not working but how your body is unable to absorb and assimilate nutrients and medications it’s taking in.
Coach Andi
The point is, don’t stop looking for another option. You’ve only tried a handful of natural remedies, say extra Vitamin C supplements, eating more vegetables, drinking more water, etc. Maybe you should also cleanse your system. A backed-up gut will have a real problem absorbing nutrients to fight off a virus if it’s bogged down with excessive toxins from your food, water, and air.
Keep These On Hand Anyway
It’s a good idea to take a look in your kitchen and herbal and supplemental pantries and take note of what can boost your immune system. The virus isn’t slowing down it’s spread anytime soon, so your exposure may be imminent. It’s best to be prepared rather than to let ignorance be your demise.
Anti-viral Herbs:
You can get these as tinctures, teas, whole foods to add to your cooking, and essential oil applications. The above links will take you to some easy options so you can use them right away.
Foods:
- Bone Broth/Stock
- Ginger
- Vitamin C Foods
- Organic Green Tea
- Probiotic Foods (fermented with live enzymes – like yogurt, sauerkraut, etc.)
Cook, grate and slice, snack on, sip on, and add to your meals everyday!
Supplements:
I personally recommend, Shaklee supplements along with Dr. Axe supplements. They both have passed my “will I look and feel like a million-dollar Boss with too much time on my hands?” Yes… yes I do, so they pass. You can personally join me in Shaklee (I’ve been with them since 2001 y’all!), just use code: ZD06554 as your sponsor and I’ll drop you a $10 Amazon gift card as a small token of my thanks for joining me to look and feel like a million-dolla BOSS.
Oh, and now that you have some extra time in the kitchen, make your own nutrient-dense broths! Save those bones (preferably not from conventional feed lots) from organic and pasture-raised animals, like chicken, beef, pork, and fish. Use your homemade broth when you cook ANY grains, like rice, quinoa, beans, etc.
There are so many ways, everyday, to proactively protect yourself and your family from succumbing to the devastating effects of COVID-19. You don’t need to wait around for a COVID-19 vaccine to protect you. Your body is wonderfully and fearfully made to be resilient and resistant to many illnesses, in case you forgot that, I hope this article reminds you that you CAN beat this thing!
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